Long known as the “Home of American Craftsmanship”, Silver Dollar City brings together some of the best craftsmen and entertainers throughout the year for its six festivals. One of those festivals is Bluegrass and BBQ. Dubbed the “World’s Top Bluegrass Event” by the International Bluegrass Music Association, the Bluegrass and BBQ Festival at Silver Dollar City attracts music enthusiasts and BBQ lovers from all across the United States and the world. Families can enjoy the park for hours, and it is easy to find a little something for everyone.
During the festival, Silver Dollar City sets the stage for artists like The HillBenders and Darin and Brooke Aldridge to wow audiences with their talents. Many different Hundreds of thousands of people come from all over the United States to see some of the best live bluegrass music in the world. Some of the bands that were featured in the festival this year were The HillBenders, The Grascals, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Each year, Silver Dollar City hosts a Single Microphone Competition, which is a revival of a style made popular in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. According to Silver Dollar City’s website, this style used only a single microphone, and band members would balance their sound by moving toward it or away from it. The winners of the 2012 competition, Brightwater Junction, are performing in the festival in 2013. This year the competition took place on May 18th, and the band Lonsome Meadow took home the first place prize. During Bluegrass and BBQ, Silver Dollar City also hosts the KSMU Youth in Bluegrass Contest. On May 25th, musicians 21 years of age or younger wowed audiences with their budding talents, and WMD Band took home the coveted first place honor.
New to Bluegrass and BBQ this year is the opportunity to experience bluegrass music by land and by lake. Showboat Branson Belle offered bluegrass cruises on May 24th and 26th at noon. This cruise featured performances by Monroe Crossing on May 24th, the Larry Stephenson Band on May 25th, and The Special Consensus on May 26th.
Last but definitely not least is The House of BBQ. This eatery serves St. Louis style ribs, smoked chicken, roasted corn on the cob, and many other dishes that come straight from outdoor charcoal grills and a custom built nine-foot long smoker. An all-you-can-eat BBQ rib feast is also back to Bluegrass and BBQ. This feast happens each afternoon on the Square, and smoked ribs and smoked brisket are on the menu. A variety of different sauces are also available for sampling, and can enhance the flavor of any of your BBQ dishes.
When you’re in the Branson area in the spring, make sure to check out Silver Dollar City’s Bluegrass and BBQ festival for the best of the best in bluegrass and the best of the best in BBQ experiences. You and your whole family can find something to enjoy, whether it is the bluegrass music, the fabulous food, or the opportunity to cruise the lake and experience the ambiance of bluegrass from the water. Before you go on vacation, take a look at Silver Dollar City for your family. For more information about tickets, season passes, and events going on in the park, visit silverdollarcity.com.
